So, you’re ready to have a baby NOW, but is rushing conception a possibility?
After years of working hard to prevent unplanned pregnancies, it feels a little weird to get ready to start the baby-making (instead of baby-preventing) party. That said, there’s not really a strategic way to get pregnant fast naturally.
Despite the number of stories we hear about couples having unprotected sex one time and ending up pregnant, it’s not always that easy.
Sure, it happens, but for many of us, that’s just not the case.
When my husband and I started our conception journey, we knew we’d need reproductive medicine and treatment to make it happen. I was willing to do anything to tip the scales in our favor and get pregnant as quickly as possible.
I wish I could tell you there’s a magic spell or button you can use to ensure you get pregnant ASAP, but no tips or tricks I know of will ever offer a 100% guarantee.
With that in mind, there’s no harm in looking for ways to increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally. As you prepare for pregnancy and look for tips to conceive, consider the suggestions below.
From ovulation tracking to cutting back on alcohol, these 20 ideas might help you speed up the reproductive process!
This site contains affiliate links, meaning that we earn a small commission for purchases made through our site. We only recommend products we personally use, love, or have thoroughly vetted.
Where Do Babies Come From? Back to the Basics of How to Get Pregnant
Sperm meets egg. Egg meets sperm.
That pretty much wraps up the birds and the bees talk…right?
Not exactly.
It doesn’t seem like getting pregnant should be such a complicated process. But, without perfect timing, conceiving a baby won’t happen.
Each person has what we like to call a fertile window every month.
These are the days around ovulation when your body releases an egg for fertilization. Since sperm can survive in our bodies for five days, you are most likely to conceive during the five days leading up to ovulation and ovulation day itself.
An egg will only live for 12-24 hours upon its release. After this period, it’s nearly impossible to conceive.
So, there you have it; every hopeful parent only has approximately six particular days during the month when conception is possible.
In other words, we have around a 20% chance of getting pregnant each month.
What if there were simple techniques you could implement to increase those odds, though? Read on for our odds-increasing suggestions!
Lifestyle Changes for Getting Pregnant Faster
It might surprise you that our everyday lifestyle choices can naturally affect our chances of getting pregnant.
The suggestions below could make a difference in your fertility, from the number of cups of coffee you drink daily to achieving healthy weight goals.
Lifestyle changes might seem difficult at first (who wants to cut back on caffeine?!), but along with proper medical care, they are a great way to increase your chances of getting pregnant fast naturally.
1. Set Up Your Annual Gynecological Exam
This is a simple one you should be doing every year already–make an appointment for your annual gynecological exam!
Not only can your gyno help identify any potential reproductive problems, but they can also answer any of your questions and offer tips for improving your chances of getting pregnant during a preconception checkup.
2. Add a High-Quality Prenatal Vitamin to Your Diet
You might assume that prenatal vitamins come after a positive pregnancy test. However, some experts believe you should begin taking them when you start the “trying to conceive” process.
Prenatals include many powerful nutrients, such as DHA and folic acid, that support a baby’s development. The sooner your body has things available, the better.
If you need a trustworthy prenatal, consider some of the options below:
- Ritual Prenatals
- One-a-Day Prenatal Vitamins
- VitaFusion Prenatal Gummies
- Pink Stork Total Prenatal with DHA
3. Stop Smoking
Per the FDA, research shows that smoking can inhibit hormone production, harm your reproductive system, and make conception more challenging. If you’re a smoker, now might be the time to quit.
4. Work Towards Weight Goals
I’ve heard people mention how being overweight can negatively impact a person’s ability to get pregnant, but did you know being underweight can, too?
When your weight is considered unhealthy by healthcare providers (and we realize that there are a LOT of issues around this topic), you may experience hormone imbalances and issues with ovulation.
For instance, some people who are overweight experience higher levels of leptin, a hormone stemming from fatty tissues that may lead to imbalanced reproductive hormones.
For potential parents who are underweight, you can experience a drop in estrogen. This decrease can cause irregular periods and ovulation that can lead to fertility challenges.
5. Cut Back On Caffeine
Most of us probably assume that recreational drugs aren’t ideal when we want to get pregnant, but did you know your daily caffeine intake can also play a role? Studies show that consuming large amounts of caffeine can make it harder to get pregnant.
6. Consider a “Fertility Diet”
Experts believe there are certain foods you can eat to boost your fertility. These include:
- Foods High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Whole Grains
- Raw Nuts
- Whole Fruits and Vegetables
- High Protein Foods
7. Beware of Laptops Near Testicles
Did you know that men who sit with their laptops on their lap are more likely to experience male infertility?
That’s right! When the heat from your laptop and the radiofrequency of Wi-Fi are right next to a person’s testicles, it can lead to low sperm production and poor motility.
8. Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption
While the occasional glass of wine while trying to conceive probably won’t affect fertility, frequent binge drinking (usually four or more alcoholic drinks) can interfere with hormone production.
Since hormones help control reproductive processes, such as ovulation, when they become imbalanced, it’s harder to track ovulation, making it more challenging to conceive.
9. Discontinue Birth Control Pills
When figuring out how to get pregnant fast naturally, stopping your birth control might seem obvious. Did you know, however, that it’s not always easy to get pregnant right after discontinuing use?
While it’s possible to conceive immediately, it’s not guaranteed. Some experts note that people coming off birth control can experience a two to six-month delay in getting pregnant.
If you know you’ll want to start your family quickly, you can always consider getting off contraceptive pills earlier and using alternative protection until you’re ready.
10. Practice Stress Management
Have you ever noticed that one of the “old tricks” to get pregnant people suggest is to “just relax?” While rest and relaxation might not guarantee quick conception, there could be some validity to the idea.
Stress and fertility can sometimes go hand in hand.
Research shows that mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can prolong the time it takes to conceive.
Thankfully, you can try plenty of stress management options to decrease stress levels and improve your mental health. Some popular suggestions include journaling, exercise, acupuncture, hobbies, and meditation.
Use Fertility Tracking to Get Pregnant Faster Naturally
Okay, so you’re working on getting your habits in check to enhance the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy–what else can you do to get pregnant faster naturally?
Let’s move on to fertility tracking and how it can improve your conception experience.
1. Find a Trustworthy Period Tracker App
It should come as no surprise that your menstrual cycle plays a vital role in getting pregnant. After all, your period is often the marker for tracking when ovulation may occur.
If you need help keeping up with your monthly cycle, it can’t hurt to download a period tracking app. Some of our favorite options are the ones below:
2. Consider Natural Family Planning Techniques
Some of us have no interest in relying on a phone app to help us understand our bodies and reproductive system. If this sounds like you, natural family planning solutions can help you figure out when you’re ovulating.
Some of the most common ovulation symptoms include:
- Surge in Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Readings
- Increased Cervical Mucus (Around ovulation, it usually looks like creamy egg whites – sorry for that lovely description!)
- Changes in Mood
- Mild Cramping
3. Research Ways to Track Ovulation
While searching for period trackers to help you get pregnant more quickly, you might as well look for ovulation tests or an ovulation calculator, too!
Using information like your period dates and symptoms, ovulation tracking apps will help you pinpoint the days you’re probably most fertile during the month. Ovulation test strips are used similarly to urine pregnancy tests but will show whether you’re ovulating.
How to Improve Fertility While You’re in the Bedroom
Let’s face it; unless you’re using assisted reproductive technology to conceive, such as IVF or intrauterine insemination (IUI), sex will be a big part of your family-building experience.
Now, I’m not here to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t do inside the bedroom, but if you want to get pregnant fast, the ideas below could help.
1. Figure Out Which Positions You Might Want to Use While Doing the Deed (DTD)
When it comes to old tricks to getting pregnant, I’ve often heard chatter about certain sex positions being better for conception than others.
But is it true?
Not exactly.
No matter how you do the deed, sperm will reach your cervix within a few seconds of release. That said, standard missionary positions can get semen closer to the cervix upon ejaculation. That way, your partner’s swimmers are closer to their end goal!
2. Be Careful with Lubricants
While using lube can make sex more pleasurable, did you know it can also decrease sperm motility?
If you want to use something while TTC, look for “fertility-friendly” lubricant, such as the products below:
- Astroglide Water-Based Lube
- Pre-Seed Fertility Lubricant
- ConceivePlus Fertility Lube
- The Lube by Natalist
3. Have Sex Regularly
By regular sex, I’m not saying you have to take a roll in the hay several times a day. If you know you’re ovulating, however, routine trips to the bedroom will be beneficial.
Mayo Clinic says the highest pregnancy rates occur in couples who have sex every day or every other day. If this isn’t practical, they suggest getting busy every couple of days after your period ends, before ovulation.
4. Stay in Bed and Relax After Sex
I’ve heard people claim you should stay in bed after sex for optimal conception potential, but honestly, I didn’t think it was a real “thing.”
But HealthyWomen.org actually suggests lying in bed for up to 30 minutes after sex to keep semen inside your cervix as long as possible. You can even place a pillow under your lower back to tilt your uterus upwards.
This step is not necessarily mandatory, but it also couldn’t hurt!
Some Extra “Old Tricks” to Getting Pregnant
Want some more tips for getting pregnant quickly? Here are a few more ideas/old wives’ tales that people suggest!
1. Make an Appointment With an Acupuncturist
Acupuncture is a beneficial practice that can help with a wide range of health problems and conditions. You may not know, however, that there are also acupuncture points for fertility!
Whether undergoing infertility treatments or trying to get pregnant the old-fashioned way, your acupuncturist can offer protocols that benefit the overall process.
2. Keep Your Uterus “Warm”
When my husband and I started our first round of IVF, a friend who’d gone to school for Eastern medicine suggested I “keep my uterus warm” in the days before and after our embryo transfer.
I won’t lie– thought she’d lost it.
She explained that in Chinese medicine, a warm uterus helps create a more hospitable environment for a viable pregnancy.
She suggested wearing socks to keep my feet warm (there’s a connection between your feet and uterus in Chinese medicine), using a gentle heating pad on my belly, and eating warm foods for implantation.
3. Buy Yourself a Pineapple
One day while going down a rabbit hole in an online infertility support forum, I came across the suggestion to eat one slice of pineapple every day (including the core) leading up to ovulation or an embryo transfer.
As someone who loves pineapple, it didn’t take long for me to jump on the bandwagon, but I still wanted to know why this magical fruit was recommended for conception success.
Simple, many people believe that pineapple and implantation success go together!
Pineapples, especially the cores, contain an enzyme called bromelain. This substance is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that can improve the condition of a hopeful mama’s uterus.
There’s No Perfect Way to Get Pregnant Quickly, but These Tips Can’t Hurt!
I wish I could say that you’ll get pregnant within the next few weeks if you use these tips. Unfortunately, nothing is ever a “sure thing.” However, if you want to know how to improve fertility and HOPEFULLY conceive more quickly, these suggestions are a great place to start!
After all, what harm is there if you cut back on caffeine, have sex more often, or eat a little pineapple?
Which one of these tips on how to get pregnant fast naturally are you likely to try? Have you used any in the past?
